The German Women's Ski Jumping Team secured bronze at the World Championships held in Trondheim, Norway, marking another successful outing for the athletes on March 1, 2025. The team, comprised of Juliane Seyfarth, Katharina Schmid, Agnes Reisch, and Selina Freitag, narrowly missed defending their gold medal from previous championships but remained proud of their achievements.
Selina Freitag led the charge, having taken home silver the day before during the individual event, and her performances helped solidify the team’s standing. Despite starting strong and holding on to second place after the first jumps, they faced stiff competition from Norway and Austria, who ended up taking gold and silver, respectively. "We have all done really well today. We’re going to celebrate, but hello!" Freitag exclaimed, her excitement palpable after the team's win.
The competition opened with strong jumps from Seyfarth, who logged 93.5 meters, followed by Schmid with 91.5 meters, and then Reisch with 99.5 meters. Freitag contributed with 95.5 meters, keeping the team in the hunt as they entered the final round just slightly behind Norway. The initial rankings had the German team second, just 5.6 points off the lead.
Unfortunately, the winds picked up during the second round, creating challenges for all competitors. Juliane Seyfarth, typically reliable, landed short at just 79 meters, dropping the team to third place and significantly widening the gap from the top two. "I would have liked to pass differently. I really fell down," Schmid reflected after her attempt of only 86 meters following Seyfarth’s setback, which dimmed the hopes of reclaiming their previous championship title.
Despite the challenges posed by the windy conditions, the team managed to secure their bronze medal through impressive performances from the remaining jumpers. Reisch’s 90 meters and Freitag's final jump of 96 meters were enough to confirm their place on the podium, comfortably finishing more than 30 points clear of fourth-place Slovenia. Co-trainer Thomas Juffinger acknowledged the adversity faced, stating, "After the first round, it looked very good, but unfortunately, the wind also played a role."
The event was characterized by camaraderie among the competitors, with team members lifting each other’s spirits both during and after their jumps, embodying the spirit of teamwork. Freitag and her teammates celebrated together, adorned with the German flag painted on their cheeks, emphasizing the unity and pride of their team.
The day concluded on a high note, not just for the medals earned but also for the resilience demonstrated. Even after setbacks, they showed determination to continue competing at the highest levels, with future opportunities on the horizon as the team gears up for upcoming challenges, including the mixed team event later this week.
Though the competition did not yield the gold they aimed for, the atmosphere remained celebratory as they basked in their collective success, signaling bright futures for these athletes. Their remarkable performances throughout the competition will surely keep Germany competitive on the international stage. With the mixture of triumph and challenges, these athletes reinforce the old adage: one step at a time paves the way toward grander achievements.